Butterick 4467 Morphed Top and Sash

I completed another version of this top. I borrowed the neckline from this TNT dress pattern, Simplicity 8566.





I've made this pattern a bunch of times for cool and casual summer dresses. One of the great things about the neckline is that it's large enough that you can pull the garment over your head--no closures required. But at the same time, it's not too low cut. Perfect.


Basically what I did to morph was to overlay the Simplicity bodice pieces over the Butterick pieces, then retrace. The neckline and shoulders came from the Simplicity, and the rest of the garment came from the Butterick. Surprisingly, the shoulders on both lined up pretty well. A nice side benefit was that I was able to eliminate the center back seam so the back bodice could be cut on the fold. This was important because my fabric had a large print, and I didn't have a whole lot of it. Cutting on the fold meant no need for pattern matching.


Once the pattern was morphed, the top came together quickly, and my brown and white skirt now has a mate!





I also had a little bit of fabric left, so I decided to make the sash from this pattern. I adapted it too, making the sash narrower so it would fit. Although it doesn't show in this photo, having the sash really makes the top and skirt look like a dress instead of separates.

With the morphs I've done, I feel that this top has become a TNT that I'll make again and again. And as a bonus, the sash will become an accessories TNT as well.

Paying it Forward

One of the assistants at my office has a young daughter who is taking sewing classes as one of her summer activities. I packed up a shopping bag of cottons left from other projects and brought them to work yesterday for her to sew with.

M was very appreciative, and I only wish that I could have seen her daughter's reaction. It's fun to be able to encourage a new sewer!

Punting (Again)

Here it is, the end of June, and I've done very little on the designer dress that I was going to make for my sister's niece's fancy wedding in NY. So I've punted and ordered a bunch of dresses that should arrive next week. Hopefully one of them will work and can at least serve as a back up dress in the increasingly likely event that I won't get one made.

I still want to make a designer gown, but perhaps a more likely scenario is my own wedding vs. someone else's (no, still no date yet).

Butterick 4467 Update

Just a brief update to show the embellishment I used to finish off the neck closure. Pre-made ribbon roses can be purchased at fabric stores like JoAnn's and Hancock's (where this one came from). The bag I bought had 40 in assorted colors and cost $3.99. I've also seen similar roses sold as ribbon yardage.


I'm not sure what the rest of them will be used for, but that's ok. I tend to buy "on spec" vs. for a particular project anyway. I could see them being used on lingerie, children's outfits, home decor, shoe embellishments, etc. If you're a scrapbooker (which I'm not), they'd be nice accents for a girlie page (birthday party, wedding, shower, etc.)


I'll be making at least one more of these tops. I made this skirt last summer (Loes Hinse Gore Skirt Group):





I have enough fabric left over to make a top. Originally, I had a different pattern in mind but the Butterick would work well. I'm still figuring out how to do the closure. I pulled an invisible zipper but I'm also considering a morph of a different neckline that doesn't require a closure at all.

Slightly Sidelined, with a Solution

I've managed to pick up a slight eye infection while in Vegas, so no contacts for the next week or so until I finish the eyedrops I've been prescribed. On a positive note, I do see better to sew when I wear glasses--maybe this is a sign. More sewing!!

By the way, I joined the "Garment Each Month" sewalong at PatternReview. The top I finished yesterday is the June garment. Yay!! Only 6 more months to go! Surely this is something I can do; 1 garment a month is the minimum. I can and should be able to complete more. Hopefully I haven't just jinxed myself.

Speaking of the top, I wore it to work today and noticed a couple of things: the darts were too long, giving a sort of "faux nip" effect (KWIM?). So I shortened them 1-1/4". Much better!! I did this as soon as I got home from work so I wouldn't forget.

I also noticed just the tiniest bit of tightness in the shoulders; I guess years of slouching are beginning to catch up with me. I must keep this in mind in the future so I can allow for this.

Note to Gigi and Carolyn: Thanks for your comments. The hook and eye closure was a bit plain, and Gigi's suggestion of a frog closure is an excellent idea. I did something along those lines, but slightly different. The other day, I had bought an assortment of tiny ribbon roses that included some in a blue shade that coordinates with the top. I placed one at the center back by hand sewing half of the rose on one side of the slit, letting the other half just overlap the other side. It looks so cute (will add a picture later, don't worry!).

Ideas for future tops include:

• installing a short invisible zipper. I had a RTW top done like this many years ago, nice finish.
• tweaking the pattern to allow for a button placket. I currently have some tops like this so I would be able to work this out with a little bit of examination.
• the bias loop I mentioned yesterday
• a bias bound edge, also mentioned yesterday
• a "floating" snap
• narrow ties

I'm sure I could also work out a way to place a bias loop on the fold if I put my mind to it. There's more than one way to solve this!

Carolyn, thanks for the fitting suggestions. It probably doesn't show well on the dress form but the top does have bust darts and side shaping. However, Miss Acme is not as well endowed as me! The top also fits me as closely as I feel comfortable with on a work garment. Miss Acme is also not as short waisted as I am and her hip curve is lower.

I used to have a TNT similar to this top some (cough, cough) 20 years ago--the fit was much more generous than this one, so I hear what you're saying. I wish I'd kept that pattern though, instead of deciding to donate it because the rest of the pattern was so dated. Arrrgggghhh! Isn't that always the way?!? Having it now would mean tweaking a TNT instead of working from scratch to find that "perfect" top.

Butterick 4467 top

I've been working on this pattern in an attempt to come up with a TNT for a simple blouse to wear with suits and jackets for work. The top seemed like a good candidate since it already has bust darts, short sleeves, and an attractive neckline.

Although I like this top, I'm not sure this pattern is "the one".





It has a back seam with cut-on facings, which seemed like a good idea in theory.


In reality, it was a bit fidgity to get the neck edge and back opening even, and it still doesn't lay as smooth and flat as I'd like.





I also don't care for pattern instructions that call for a hand-worked thread loop, preferring a thin bias loop of fabric instead. However, that back neck opening is on a fold not a seam, so there's really no place to neatly attach a bias loop. I finally just decided that a hook and eye would have to do this time. I may try this pattern again after changing the facings to eliminate that pesky fold at center back. I could also eliminate the facings altogether and bind the neck edge. Either solution would work and would also solve the neck fastener issue by providing an insertion point at center back.

It also seems very long. Sure, this is easy enough to remedy, but I had to take off an additional 1-3/4" when hemming it up. I'll be adjusting the pattern in case I make it in the future.

Beth H: Ooops! is all I can say. I was making a few notes in advance. Somehow I selected "Publish Post" instead of "Save as Draft." Sorry 'bout that. The correct pattern number is 4467. It is out of print but still on the Butterick web site.

Farewell Tim, We Will Miss You

DF and I watched Tim Russert almost every weekend on "Meet the Press." He was an excellent interviewer on that show. He also added so much to this primary season and past presidential campaigns. What insight into the process.

Although he was usually the smartest guy in the room, he was also a kind and generous man. Courteous while grilling the guests on his show, and always willing to share the stage with his fellow reporters.

Like many of us, I was shocked and dismayed to hear of his sudden death yesterday afternoon. It's a great loss.

I'm Baaaack!

...and today I'm lounging about and relaxing.

The Vegas trip was a lot of fun--we flew out Thursday evening and returned yesterday afternoon. DF and I stayed at the Mirage in the heart of the strip. Beautiful place, probably best known as the former home of Siegfried and Roy's show. Our room overlooked the Strip, where we overlooked the Venetian and Wynn.

Amazing how huge the casinos are! We did a lot of walking and exploring. The Venetian (aka "faux Venice") features a replica of St. Mark's Square and a canal with gondoliers. Although inside, it's convincingly lit so it appears that you're outside, and the clouds move. Cool! Lots of gourmet dining. We ate at the San Marco, a Mario Batali owned place. Simple dishes, but very well done. There were also musicians, jugglers, and a "living statue" to accent the shopping.

I could not believe the amount of shopping. Every casino has a pretty serious mall inside, with every famous designer you could think of. In some cases, like Louis Vuitton, there were multiple stores located in several casinos. In addition, there is an actual mall in the middle of everything called the Fashion Show. It was so overwhelming, I ended up not buying anything except a T-shirt.

Friday night, we went to Fremont Street, which is the original strip. A little scruffy by comparison, but the light show was interesting. Quite possibly, one of the world's largest television screens--a block long. We also went to the Stratosphere and rode one of the rides. It was terrifying!!

Saturday, more of the same. We went off the strip to the Orleans in the evening to see George Carlin. 71, still sharp and as profane as ever!

Sunday was basically getting to the airport and people-watching. Oh yes, there were slot machines in there too.

All in all, Las Vegas is strange, glittering, tacky, beautiful, and compelling. Say what you will, but it was pretty fascinating and I'll be back.